Asphalt tile cutter



Oct. 23, 1951 I F. 1. WHITE 2,572,791

ASPHALT TILE CUTTER Filed Feb. 6, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 3a I m 2 T 76 Francis I. While INVENTOR.

F. l. WHITE ASPHALT TILE CUTTER Oct. 23, 1951 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Feb. 6, 1950 429 Fig.3

Franc/s while INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ASPHALT TILE CUTTER Francis I. White, Little Rock, Ark.

Application February 6, 1950, Serial No. 142,693

2 Claims.

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in cutting devices, and more particularly pertains to a device for cutting thermoplastic materials.

An important object of this invention is to provide a device for cutting sheet materials which are, at normal room temperatures, brittle and difficult to cut.

Another important object is to provide a cutting device Which will cut one sheet of material without cutting or marring a second sheet of material positioned below the first sheet.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cutting device in which the cutting blade is adjustably guided parallel to a vertical guide surface along which the cut material is to be laid.

An important feature of this invention resides in the provision for a heating unit which heats the sheet material forwardly of the cutting blade to a plastic state to permit the cutting blade to pass therethrough.

A further feature of this invention resides in the provision for a combined supporting and smoothing block in which is mounted a vertically adjustable cutting blade.

Yet another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a horizontally extending guide arm having a transversely extending pro- -jection thereon, which guide arm is pivotally mounted in vertical alignment with the cutter blade so that the projection may be selectively pivoted into either a vertical position for guiding the blade parallel to an uneven vertical surface, or a horizontal position for guiding movement of the blade and cutting device parallel to a flat vertical surface.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features, are attained by this device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cutting device;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the cutting device showing the heating unit, and guide arm;

Figure 3 is a side elevational View of the cutting device, parts being broken away and shown in section for purposes of illustration;

' Figure 4 is a front elevational View of the cutting device;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view showing the pivotally mounted horizontal guide arm and the means for selectively looking it in predetermined angular positions; and

Figure 6 is a perspective detail view of the guide arm.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, it can be seen that there is provided a cutting device indicated generally by the numeral I0, which cutting device is particularly adaptable to the cutting of asphalt tiles and the like, wherein it is necessary to heat the tiles prior to the cutting thereof, in order to prevent chipping or uneven breaking.

The cutting device [0 consists generally of a base portion [2 upon which is supported a handle M, which handle may conveniently be formed of wood or plastic in any desired shape.

For purposes which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, the base I2 is provided with a preferably flat under surface I 6, with vertically extending internally threaded bores l8 in the forward and rear por tions of the base. A plate 20 is secured to the under surface [6 of the base l2 as by stud bolts 22 and 24 which are receivable respectively in the bores l8 in the forward and rear portions of the base.

The heating unit indicated generally by the numeral 26 is attached to the under surface of the plate 20, and preferably forwardly thereon so as to permit the guiding and cutting unit, in,- dicated generally by the'numeral 28, to be similarly attached to the plate 20 adjacent the rear portion thereof, so that the tile or similar ma.- terial that is to be cut will be heatedprior to the passing of the cutting unit thereover.

The heating unit 26 includes preferably strips 30 of electrically insulating material which extend through longitudinally extending slots 32 in the plate 20, which strips are provided with flanges (not shown) on their inner edge which retains the strips in position when the flangesare engaged by the under surface I6 of the base. Obviously, the base may be suitably recessed to permit the flanges to be received therein so that the plate 20 will be flatly on the under surface of the base. The strips 30' are provided with transversely extending longitudinally spaced bores 34, which bores receive an electrical resistance wire or coil 36 which is laced through the bores to provide a heating grid which preferably extends along the longitudinal medial axis of the plate 30, the length of the grid and the heating capacity thereof being proportioned to heat the asphalt tile or similar material sufficiently to permit the tile to be cut. Obviously,

\J the greater the length and/or heating capacity of the grid, the more rapidly may the heatin unit be passed over the tile and still heat it sufficiently to be cut.

In order to shield the heating grid from damage, the base [2 may be provided with aprons 38 which depend from sides of the base adjacent the edges of the plate 20. A shield 40 extends between the forward edges of the aprons 38 and further protects the heating grid from damage due to obstructions which lie in the path of travel and also serves to reinforce strips 30. This shield has a flange 42 thereon which underlies the forward stud bolt 22 and is secured thereby to the base l2.

A block 44 is secured, as by welding, screws or the like, transversely of the plate 20, and preferably rearwardly of the heating grid. The block 44 is provided with a vertical bore 28 in its lower surface, with a cutting blade 48 being vertically adjustably received in the bore. A longitudinally extending, internally threaded bore 5!] intersects the bore 46, and receives a set screw 52 which engages and locks the blade 48 in its vertically adjusted position. As it is customary in cutting one piece of tile to place it on a row of tile which has already been laid, it is imperative that a blade adjusting means be provided to permit cutting of the upper tile without marriug that which lies therebelow. As is readily apparent from a consideration of Figure 5 of the drawings, the under surface of the block 44 glides over the tile 54 and positively limits the depth of cut of the blade 48.

As it is the general practice, in laying tiles, to start from the center of the room and work towards the walls thereof, it is apparent that the cutting and fitting of the tiles will be about the periphery of the room. There is, accordingly, provided a guiding device. For this purpose, the block 44 is provided with a longitudinally extending bore 56, with annular flanges 58 and 60 bein formed on opposite sides of the block coaxial with the bore. Slidably and rotatably received on the flanges 58 and 60 and extending through the bore 56. is a rod 62. A first pin 64 is secured to. that part of the rod .62 which lies in the bore 55, and a compression spring 66 is mounted coaxially of the rod between the first pin and the annular flan e 58. which will later become apparent, the flange 58 is provided with a radially extending vertical keyway 68 and a horizontal keyway 70. A second pin I2 is diametrically attached to the rod 82 adjacent the keyways 68 and 10, which pin is retainedin its seat in the l z yways by the SUTiIlg 56. A third pin 14 is attached to the rod, externally of the flange 60, to prevent accidental removal of the rod from the bore 56.

The rod 62 is provided with an internally splined bore, which ma be of the rectangu ar cross-section shown, and which bore slidably receives a rectangular or otherwise keyed extension 3'8. The extension has secured thereto perpendicularly extending guide bar 18. A thumb screw 80 or the like is threadedly received in the rod 62 and selectively locks the extension l6 thereto, in predetermined adjusted positions.

Suitable conductors 82 and 84 are connected as'by contact'screws 86 to opposite ends of the resistance wire 35 that makes up the heating grid. The conductors 82 and 84 then extend through a bore 88 in the handle -I 4 of the tile cutting device, the conductors being encased in a suitable insulating casing 90, a conventional resilient fer- For purposes iii) rule 92 bein attached to the outer surface of the handle, coaxial of the bore 88, to prevent sharp bends in the conductors.

Downwardly depending legs 96 are secured to the forward end of plate 20 to vertically space the heating grid from the tile 54.

In operation, as previously discussed, the tiles are laid from the center of the room outward, it being, generally necessary to cut the last row of tiles adjacent the walls 94. The tile to be cut is then superimposed on the last full row of tile which was laid, and the distance between the outer end of the guide bar 18 and the blade 48 being adjusted to equal the width of the tile before cutting. Then, by guiding the device so that the outer surface of the guide bar engages the wall 9.4, there will be cut a strip of correct width and shape. As the heating unit is positioned forward of the cutting blade, the tile 54 will be heated so as to be sufficiently plastic to be readily cut.

When cutting along fiat walls, or other plane vertical surfaces, the guide bar [8 is pivoted to its horizontal position so as to guide the cutting device parallel to the wall. However, when cutting around door frames and the like, the guide bar is pivoted to itsvertical position. In order that the contour of the door frame may be accurately traced and cut. out of a tile that is laterally shifted along a line perpendicular to the wall from the position it will assume when finally laid, it is intended that the rod 62 and the blade as lie in a common vertical plane.

Obviously, the plate 20 could be attached directly to the under surface of a conventional iron as by the stud bolts 22 and 24, in which instance the aforementioned heating grid 26 would be supplanted by the heating unit of the iron. In order to enhance the heating of the tiles by the iron, the plate 20 may be suitably apertured in that portion which underlies. the heating surface of the iron to permit the heat to radiate directly from the under surface of the iron. From the foregoing, it is thought that the operation and construction of the. device. will be readily apparent, and further discussion is believed unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not in tended to limit the invention to that shown and 7 described, but all suitabl modifications may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A tile cutting device comprising a base, a heating unit attached to the undersurface of said base, means vertically spacing saidheating unit from the surfacev to be out, said spacing means including a smoothing block having a vertically extending bore in its lower surface, a cutting blade vertically adjustably received in said bore, means including a set screw selectively locking said blade to said block, said block having a'horizontal bore therein, said bore extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of said cutting device, a longitudinally expansible guide rod" pivotally mounted in said bore, a guide finger attached transversely of said guide'rod, keyways on said block extending radially from said horizontal bore, key means on said rod selectively receivable in said keyways, means yieldingly urging said key means into locking engagement with said keyways in said block.

2. A tile cutting device comprising a base hav ing an under surface, a heating element attached to said under surface of said base, a supporting and smoothing block also attached to said under surface of said base, said block having a bore therein extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of said base, inwardly extending annular flanges in said bore, a guide rod slidably and rotatably received in said bore and supported by said flanges, horizontal and vertical keyways formed in the external face of one of said flanges, a transversely extending key on said rod selectively receivable in said keyways, a transversely extending pin on that portion of said rod which lies in said bore, a spring disposed in said bore between said pin and the inner surface of said one flange to yleldingly urge said key into said keyways, a guide member attached transversely of said guide rod, pivotal movement of said guide REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,934,181 Fouke Nov. 7, 1933 2,308,047 Blakeslee Jan. 12, 1943 Carlino Feb. 14, 1950 

